Face Painting Practice Post 2

Last week I shared with you some face painting designs I have done. This week I am also sharing some more designs of mine that I have also done recently.  I am starting to get comfortable now making up designs and going with the flow and starting to understand which brushes are better for certain designs.  Below are some photos of some designs I have done on arms.

Face Painting Practice Post 1

I have been doing face-painting as a hobby for a couple of years now on my own children but have been doing extra practice lately and trying out different designs.  Here are some designs I did on some children just recently. I use the Snazaroo Paints.  Hopefully I will be able to share some more photos with you as I get more practice.

Below are some photos of some designs I have done in the past.

Kit Kat Skittles Cake Tutorial

I have been busy lately making and designing cakes. So it was no surprise when my son requested I make a cake for him to celebrate him becoming an official adult. That is him turning 18 here in the UK. I had previously made a KitKat tiered cake (without packets) so he requested a similar one. I will share with you at the bottom of this post the original one I made.

For this one I kind of cheated by buying chocolate cake mix packets and ready made frosting! I have previously made my own but wanted to make sure this turned out good for my son. I will write a mini tutorial for this cake. I actually made 4 layers but only needed 3 layers however that wasn't a disaster as my daughter used that layer to design another cake! If you want to bake your own cake then just follow any online recipe for chocolate cake for 2 or 3 tiers.

Ingredients:

2 packets of Chocolate cake Mix (to make at least 3 round cakes) (extra ingredients that packets ask for)
2 tubs of chocolate frosting
18 (2 finger) Kitkats.
2 Large packets of Skittles
Ribbon/Cake plate

Instructions:

Step 1: Make the cake following cake mix instructions or make your own.
Step 2: Once cakes are cooled down place frosting over the layers and down the sides.
Step 3: carefully place the Kit Kats  all around the cake as neatly as possible.
Step 4: Place the skittles all around the top layer of the cake.
Step 5: Decorate the cake with a bow.

Below is a photo of the other Kit Kat Cake I made first.

Chocolate Covered Sandwich Cake recipe

Cake Ingredients:

200g Caster Sugar
200g Self Raising Flour
200g Soft butter
4 eggs (beaten)
1tsp baking powder
2bsp milk
few drops of 3 different food colourings.
200g Melted chocolate for decoration.
Cake decorations (like flowers as in pic)
chocolate curls/sprinkles

Buttercream Ingredients:

200g softened butter
280g icing sugar
few drops of vanilla extract
few drops of food colouring

Instructions:

Step 1: Heat oven to electric 170c
Step 2: Butter 3 20cm cake tins and line with baking paper.
Step 3: In a mixing bowl mix all cake ingredients together.
Step 4: Separate cake mixture into 3 bowls and add the colouring to each bowl.
Step 5: Place the mixture from each bowl into the 3 cake tins.
Step 6: Place into the oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown. When cooked place onto a cooling tray.
Step 7: When the cakes are in the oven you can make the buttercream. Cream the butter first.
Step 8: Gradually add the icing sugar to the butter and continue to mix. Add in the vanilla extract.
Step 9: Once buttercream is done, you can add food colouring.

Step 10: Once the cakes have cooled down, you can start applying the buttercream.If you are using a cake board then add a small amount of buttercream to it and place the first layer of cake in the centre of the board.
Step 11: Add buttercream to the top of the first layer then place the second layer on the top. Then add buttercream to the top of the second layer and place the third layer onto the top. Then cover the top and the sides of the cake with buttercream. Place into the freezer for 10 minutes to allow it to set.
Step 12: Once set apply another layer of buttercream and make it more neat. Again place in the freezer for 10 mins to set.
Step 13: Melt the chocolate and pour over the top of the set cake. Allow to drizzle over the side for a drizzle effect.
Step 14: Add the chocolate curls on top of the cake and add any other decoration onto the top.
Step 15: Add the remainder of the buttercream along the base of the cake with a piping bag. And then gently add some sprinkles. Place into the freezer for 10 minutes to set. You now have your finished cake.

Clasp Purse Tutorial

I was gifted a lovely Clasp Purse Kit from a dear friend of mine.  This is a John Lewis Product.   I have never made a purse before so was quite excited to try this new project. Even better having a kit with the pattern and instructions already provided.  I was a little disappointed though as the instructions were not very clear and I had to back-track a couple of times to get it right. Though the end product was worth it.

I thought I would share with you how I made this. I have took a photo of the original instructions so you know what the main instruction was.  The points to keep in mind are that when sewing down the sides in Step 2 make sure you go all the way down, not as it shows in the instruction diagram.  I followed the diagram and it left a gap in the purse, so you must sew all the way to the bottom.

The photos below show the steps I took when following the above instructions.  You also have the choice of using your own fabric and cutting them to the pattern size if you want something more unique!

Now I have to decide who gets the purse! Both my daughters are eyeing this product up haha!

Henna Tip Using a Cookie Cutter

Today I am sharing a tip I used for making henna designs. I used this idea on my young daughter and she then used the idea on me! I am not very good at henna designs and feel very inadequate compared to my older daughter who can do brilliant designs. So the idea was to use a template for the design and I realised a cookie cutter was the perfect thing.

Items needed:

Henna tube
Cookie Cutter

Instructions:

Step 1) Spread henna all around the edge of the cookie cutter, not too thick, just enough so it is covered.
Step 2) Place the cutter onto the hand pressing gently so that it leaves a trace of henna on the hand.
Step 3) Then using the henna tube carefully go over the design again. Then add extra patterns making a design of your choice.

The photo below shows my 9 year old daughter using the same technique on my hand.